FAQ

FAQ - PIX4Dcloud

 

IN THIS ARTICLE

General
What is PIX4Dcloud?
What are the differences between PIX4Dmapper and PIX4Dcloud?
What are the differences between PIX4Dcloud and PIX4Dcloud Advanced?
License / Subscription
How to try PIX4Dcloud Advanced?
I don't have access to PIX4Dcloud, how can I buy a subscription?
How many images can I process / How many projects can I create?
How can I buy more projects or increase my image allowance?
How to cancel the subscription plan?

How to upgrade from a PIX4Dcloud to PIX4Dcloud Advanced?

Organization management

What is Organization management?

Cloud products within an Organization

Requirements
Which internet browsers and operating systems are supported by PIX4Dcloud?
What are the hardware and software requirements for PIX4Dcloud?
I am using a proxy, a firewall. How should I configure them?
How to download PIX4Dcloud?
Inputs and outputs
What are the inputs and outputs of PIX4Dcloud?

What are the supported drones and cameras in PIX4Dcloud?

What is the highest number of images that can be processed with PIX4Dcloud?
Can I use PIX4Dcloud to upload local results?
Can a project that was processed on PIX4Dcloud be downloaded?
Functionalities
How do I process images on PIX4Dcloud?
Which processing options are used when processing on PIX4Dcloud?
Can the PIX4Dcloud results be shared?
Which analysis can I perform on PIX4Dcloud?
Can GCPs be used on PIX4Dcloud?

Can I add more images or change processing options to a project that has already been processed?

Can a processing area be used on PIX4Dcloud?
Can a project without image geolocation be processed on PIX4Dcloud?
Is it possible to choose the output coordinate system on PIX4Dcloud?
How to change the unit for measurements?
In which languages is the app available?
Data management
Is my data protected?
Where are my datasets processed and stored?
What happens to the PIX4Dcloud projects when the license expires?
Contacts
Where can I submit the product feedback and feature requests?
How can I get technical support for PIX4Dcloud and PIX4Dcloud Advanced?

What is PIX4Dcloud?

PIX4Dcloud is a cloud-based product for drone mapping, instant analysis, progress tracking, and site documentation. A platform for easy-to-share 2D and 3D models to enhance collaboration. For more information visit the Pix4D website.

What are the differences between PIX4Dmapper and PIX4Dcloud?

PIX4Dmapper is a desktop application enabling you to fully control your project: adding Ground Control Points (GCPs) and Manual Tie Points (MTPs), editing the densified point cloud, and changing many more settings which can improve the final results.

PIX4Dcloud is a cloud application that allows achieving high-quality results but lets the user choose among a predefined set of processing templates. PIX4Dcloud is the easiest way to share a project online with a link and do some simple but practical analysis.

What are the differences between PIX4Dcloud and PIX4Dcloud Advanced?

PIX4Dcloud Advanced has all the PIX4Dcloud functionalities but also allows the user to group and visualize site projects in a timeline, add control points without any need to mark them, add design maps and plans, compare two days, import and visualize IFC files and perform volume comparisons. Read more in this section.

How to try PIX4Dcloud Advanced?

Demo projects are available at https://www.cloud.pix4d.com/demo without the need of a Pix4D account or a valid license/subscription. You can also download real photogrammetry data by choosing from our online Example projects.

To try processing your own datasets on PIX4Dcloud Advanced, follow the instructions to get a PIX4Dcloud Advanced trial.

I don't have access to PIX4Dcloud, how can I buy a subscription?

The best way to acquire a PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dcloud Advanced subscription is to buy it online from the Pix4D store.

If you are a Pix4D customer, once logged in, you can add it to your plan at Manage my subscription plan, by selecting PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dcloud Advanced.

If the user account was created before June 1st 2023, it is possible to select the desired Small, Medium or Large allowance.

If the user account was created after June 1st, 2023, it is possible to purchase credits under the following range: +100 credits, +500 credits, +1000 credits, +2500 credits and +10 000 credits. For more information, Credit balance system.

How many images can I process / How many projects can I create?

The number of images that can be processed and projects that can be created using PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dcloud Advanced depends on the subscription terms, duration, and the selected allowance or number of credits available.

Users with a PIX4Dcloud or a PIX4Dcloud Advanced license are not allowed to process more than 4000 images per project. 

Information: Users' accounts created before May 31st with a valid PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dcloud Advanced license or subscription can upload unlimited PIX4Dcatch projects until the expiration date of the license.

For user accounts under the credit balance system

Starting from June 1st 2023, we are offering a PIX4Dcloud Advanced trial with 40 credits for processing and an unlimited number of projects.

40 credits are enough for processing:

  • One project with 200 images (standard drone with 20 MP camera).

Please note that there are no PIX4Dcloud trial licenses for customers using the Organization support.

PIX4Dcloud and PIX4Dcloud Advanced subscribers can use the credit calculator to estimate how many credits they need based on the size of the camera and the number of projects to process.

Access the calculator at the link: https://www.pix4d.com/pix4dcloud-calculator/.

More information about the credit system is in the following link: How to purchase credits?

Information: The allowance and credit status can be checked at the top of the Drive.
Important:

How can I buy more images and dataset allowance or credits?

During the trial period, you can extend the processing limitations by purchasing a PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dcloud Advanced license from the Pix4D store.

For user accounts under the image and dataset allowance system

If you already have a subscription plan, you can upgrade from Small and Medium to Medium and Large allowances by upgrading your plan directly at Manage my subscription plan.

For user accounts under the credit balance system

Instructions on how to use the Credit calculator are detailed in the following link: How to purchase credits?.

Information: If access to PIX4Dcloud was acquired through Pix4D sales representatives or authorized resellers and not via the Pix4D e-commerce, contact our sales team or the reseller to purchase additional allowance packages.

How to cancel the subscription plan?

The subscription plan can be canceled anytime. Learn how at How to cancel the subscription plan.

How to upgrade from a PIX4Dcloud to PIX4Dcloud Advanced?

A direct method for performing this upgrade is not currently available. As a workaround, the following steps should be taken:

  1. The current license must be canceled. Learn how at How to cancel the subscription plan.
  2. At this point, there are two options:
    1. Wait for the cancellation to be processed before purchasing the PIX4Dcloud Advanced license. This approach will prevent a double invoice or
    2. Immediately proceed with the purchase of the PIX4Dcloud Advanced license, understanding that this will result in a double invoice for one month.

Note: Upgrading the PIX4Dcloud license does not affect credits.
Credits will be deleted only when the system detects that the user account has not had a valid license for more than two months.

What is Organization management?

Organization management allows a company to centralize information and manage the access rights to licenses, cloud projects, sites, and assets generated by the employees based on their roles inside the organization.

More information about Organization management is available at Organization management and FAQ - Organization management.

Cloud products within an Organization

More information about how to work with cloud products inside the Organization is available at Cloud products with an Organization and FAQ - Organization management. 

Which internet browsers and operating systems are supported by PIX4Dcloud?

The following browsers are officially supported for PIX4Dcloud on Windows 10+ and MacOS:
  • Chrome (latest version)
  • Firefox (latest version)
  • Microsoft Edge (latest version)
  • Safari (latest version)
Note: To display very big results, the 64-bit version of the browser might be required.

What are the hardware and software requirements for PIX4Dcloud?

As a cloud product, there are no specific requirements in terms of RAM, CPU, GPU for processing and disk space for storing the data. However, ensure that:

  • Your GPU driver is updated.
  • Your browser is updated.
  • You have a good internet connection.

I am using a proxy, a firewall. How should I configure them?

If a proxy server is used or a firewall exists, some exceptions should be added. Read more at Proxy / firewall configuration when working with PIX4Dcloud.

How to download PIX4Dcloud?

There is no need to download any application. Simply go to https://www.cloud.pix4d.com and start exploring the product.

What are the inputs and outputs of PIX4Dcloud?

Inputs of a PIX4Dcloud project can be:
  • Images for processing and visualization
  • Uploaded results for visualization
  • PRJ output coordinate system file

Inputs of a PIX4Dcloud Advanced project can be:

  • Images for processing and visualization
  • Uploaded results for visualization
  • PRJ output coordinate system file
  • Ground control points (GCPs) or Checkpoints (CPs)

The full list of input files is available here: Inputs.

Once processed, it is possible to visualize and export primarily a dense point cloud, a 3D Textured Mesh, a DSM, an orthomosaic, an NDVI map, and user-created annotations. By coupling PIX4Dmapper with PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dcloud Advanced, additional outputs can be generated.

The full list of output files is available here: Outputs.

What are the supported drones and cameras in PIX4Dcloud

Pix4D develops both image acquisition apps, which allow one to perform drone and terrestrial captures, and photogrammetry software that transforms images into 2D and 3D outputs for different applications and use cases.

The list of drones supported in the database can be found in Supported drones and cameras.

Warning: Note that if a drone, camera, or device is not supported by one of Pix4D's image acquisition apps, this doesn't necessarily mean that the images captured with that drone, camera, or device can't be processed in one of Pix4D's photogrammetry software.

What is the highest number of images that can be processed with PIX4Dcloud?

In the first place, a project cannot consist of a number of images that is higher than the allowed one, that depends on the purchased license / active subscription.

PIX4Dcloud can process datasets with up to 4000 images for an optimal experience with our servers. The success of a project with a certain number of images also depends on the characteristics of the project, the processing options, and the required outputs. More information at: How many images can PIX4Dcloud process?.

Can I use PIX4Dcloud to upload local results?

Yes, outputs generated in other Pix4D or third-party applications can be uploaded as results and shared. More information at How to upload results and outputs to PIX4Dcloud.

Can a project that was processed using PIX4Dcloud be downloaded?

The input images and outputs (complete set or specific files) can be downloaded directly from the Files section of the project on PIX4Dcloud. For more information: How to download the results from PIX4Dcloud.

The images and the .p4d file can also be downloaded using PIX4Dmapper: How to download / open a previously uploaded project.

Access: Only the project owner can download project files.

How do I process images on PIX4Dcloud?

To process images on PIX4Dcloud, you can create a project by importing the images directly to PIX4Dcloud. For step-by-step instructions: New dataset.

There are also other alternatives if you are using other Pix4D products for custom processing or image acquisition:

Access: Both PIX4Dmapper license and PIX4Dcloud/PIX4Dcloud Advanced license are needed to upload project files from PIX4Dmapper to PIX4Dcloud.

Which processing options are used on PIX4Dcloud?

A processing template is selectable from a pre-defined set of templates when creating a new dataset on PIX4Dcloud/PIX4Dcloud Advanced. More information on processing options is available in What are the templates and processing options applied to PIX4Dcloud?

Can the PIX4Dcloud results be shared?

Yes, the results can be shared for visualization with clients or collaborators that do not have a PIX4Dcloud license or a Pix4D account. More information in: Share.

Which analysis can I perform on PIX4Dcloud?

You can measure distances, areas, and volumes, add markers, calculate elevation profiles and perform inspections from images. For more information: 2D/3D tools and annotations.

On top of that, with PIX4Dcloud Advanced, you can perform volume and 2D comparisons to monitor volume changes and site progress. With the Overlay tool, you can compare the as-built with the as-designed to instantly verify schedules and spot errors. More information about the PIX4Dcloud Advanced functionalities here.

Can GCPs be used on PIX4Dcloud?

GCPs can be used on PIX4Dcloud if combined with PIX4Dmapper. More information in How to use GCPs for processing on PIX4Dcloud.

GCPs can be used directly on PIX4Dcloud Advanced. More information on the requirements and the functionality at How to use the AutoGCPs detection functionality on PIX4Dcloud Advanced.

Can I add more images or change processing options to a project that has already been processed?

It is not possible to add images or modify processing options once the project has been processed.
In these cases, a new project must be created in PIX4Dcloud and processed again.

Can a processing area be used on PIX4Dcloud?

A processing area can be used for processing on PIX4Dcloud if combined with PIX4Dmapper. The processing area should be drawn using PIX4Dmapper beforehand:

1. After installing PIX4Dmapper (download link), create a new project from the images. For more information: Step 2. Creating a Project. Alternatively, if the project was previously processed on PIX4Dcloud, it is possible to download the project. For more information: How to download results from PIX4Dcloud.
2. Create a processing area. For more information: How to use a processing area in PIX4Dmapper.
3. Upload the project with the processing area from PIX4Dmapper to PIX4Dcloud. For more information: How to upload project files from PIX4Dmapper to PIX4Dcloud.

Can a project without image geolocation be processed on PIX4Dcloud?

If the project is created directly in PIX4Dcloud (from the project wizard), then image processing without geolocation is not supported.
If the project is uploaded from PIX4Dmapper, it is possible to process images without geolocation can be processed on PIX4Dcloud. However, you won't be able to use the AutoGCPs functionality, and measurements will be inaccurate.

Is it possible to choose the output coordinate system on PIX4Dcloud?

It is possible to select the horizontal and vertical output coordinate system for the project outputs. For more information: New dataset > Processing options > Output coordinate system - PIX4Dcloud

For PIX4Dcloud Advanced projects that have GCPs via the AutoGCPs detection functionality, the output coordinate system will be the GCP coordinate system. For more information: How to use the AutoGCPs detection functionality on PIX4Dcloud Advanced.

How to change the preferred unit for measurements?

The unit for the measurements takes as a reference the unit of the project output coordinate system. It is possible to change the unit for the measurements by clicking the unit switcher in the bar at the bottom of the 2D/3D viewer, where the metric, imperial, or US imperial options can be selected.

In which languages is the app available?

PIX4Dcloud and PIX4Dcloud Advanced are available in English, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish, Thai, Japanese, Deutsch, and Korean. To change the language of the interface, log into PIX4Dcloud. On the top right, click the user icon, then select Language and pick your preferred choice.

Is my data protected?

Pix4D cares about privacy and does not claim any ownership of the users' data. Find more information in our Terms of Use.

Where are my datasets processed and stored?

A cluster of servers is assigned to each account for processing and storage. This cluster can be changed in the Account Settings. More information in Where are my datasets processed and stored.

What happens to the PIX4Dcloud projects when a license expires?

Projects are kept on Pix4D servers according to the PIX4Dcloud storage expiration policy.

Where can I submit the product feedback and feature requests?

PIX4Dcloud will be developing, growing, and implementing new features specifically based on our user feedback. With this constant development, you can expect updates in our software that will translate into better decision-making. You can provide feedback on the product here: Pix4D Community.

How can I get technical support for PIX4Dcloud and PIX4Dcloud Advanced?

Pix4D customers and trial holders: For technical questions, contact our support team.

Not a customer yet? For technical questions, post on the Pix4D Community or contact sales.